‘Monster mum’ charged with murder after punching her 11-year-old so hard her stomach burst

Mum-of-three, Nicholette Lawrence, 34, pleaded guilty to first degree murder and was sentenced to 43 years in prison after severely beating her daughter to death.

The coroner ruled that her daughter, Raashanai, died from an infection following blunt force trauma that caused a broken rib to rupture her stomach.

Lawrence admitted to punching her daughter in the stomach two days before her girl died at home.

Raashanai was 11-years-old.

The chilling court proceedings revealed that the Raashanai had suffered extended periods of abuse.She spent nights locked in a closet with no furniture, was fed only a bowl of cereal a day, and had scars from cigarette burns and suffered regular beatings.

Judge James Booras described Lawrence as a ‘monster mum’, according to the Chicago Tribune.

'How can humans do this?' he wondered aloud while handing down his verdict. 'Animals don't do this to their own.'

Judge Booras also said Lawrence must serve all 43 years of her sentence and will not be allowed an early release.